Pokémon Go loses its luster, sheds more than 10M users • Hacker News Board

Re: Pokémon Go loses its luster, sheds more than 10M users

#161

Post by AndroidTim » Wed, Aug 24, 2016, 12:22 AM UTC

derefr wrote: post #91

cheald wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is on the money. Niantic made it harder and more frustrating to play their game, and people stopped playing it. They have utterly failed to understand what their playerbase wants, and people are falling off. The maps really drove it into overdrive, especially with the presence of "nests", because it allowed people to figure out where they needed to be, and would then congregate there. By taking out the maps, Nia…

> By taking out the maps, Niantic has turned their scavenger hunt into a scratch-off lotto ticket ... they broke the effort-reward cycle You're phrasing this almost as if Niantic wanted there to be third-party mapping apps in the first place, and then changed its mind. The game Niantic released doesn't have mapping, and didn't intend to have an open API. This can be read as an implicit statement that the game design…

I see what you mean but that's partially true but not entirely correct. Yes maps were not part of the original design but neither was the current system. You see The beta users had a very good indication where Pokemon were. In fact they had a superior system to even the 3 step tracking. They had the distance away from a Pokemon displayed in METRES! That would have been amazing. So the audience Niantic designed and "playability tested" didn't have the piece of crap tracking we have today. Who needs a map if u got descent tracking. Dude WAKE UP from your delusion it had nothing to do with design and targeted audience. It was all about saving BAND WIDTH.

Re: Pokémon Go loses its luster, sheds more than 10M users

#162

Post by madeofpalk » Wed, Aug 24, 2016, 12:27 AM UTC

cheald wrote: post #30

wcarss wrote: post #16

The loss and subsequent banning of maps and map users made nearly everyone I know stop playing, especially in the total absence of an official replacement or a compelling reason to continue. Hearing my map ding was enough cause to make me leap out of my chair and run to the nearby park at midnight to catch something I wanted, and there'd usually be the usual lure-users and a few map-users out there at the same time.…

This is on the money. Niantic made it harder and more frustrating to play their game, and people stopped playing it. They have utterly failed to understand what their playerbase wants, and people are falling off. The maps really drove it into overdrive, especially with the presence of "nests", because it allowed people to figure out where they needed to be, and would then congregate there. By taking out the maps, Nia…

But Pokemon Go got popular before all the third party maps and tools came out.

Re: Pokémon Go loses its luster, sheds more than 10M users

#163

Post by hrrsn » Wed, Aug 24, 2016, 12:29 AM UTC

madeofpalk wrote: post #162

cheald wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is on the money. Niantic made it harder and more frustrating to play their game, and people stopped playing it. They have utterly failed to understand what their playerbase wants, and people are falling off. The maps really drove it into overdrive, especially with the presence of "nests", because it allowed people to figure out where they needed to be, and would then congregate there. By taking out the maps, Nia…

But Pokemon Go got popular before all the third party maps and tools came out.

Initially, there was half decent tracking available inside the game, which was then killed off. Third party maps filled the void (but was admittedly less fun), which were then killed off again without tracking being replaced. This is entirely on Niantic.

Re: Pokémon Go loses its luster, sheds more than 10M users

#164

Post by ethbro » Wed, Aug 24, 2016, 12:33 AM UTC

bskap wrote: post #130

calsy wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But you are supposed to catch common pokemon, that's the quickest way to level up.

Assuming your goal is to level up. A lot of people were playing for the collection aspect.

True, "Gotta level up" is a far less compelling motto.

Re: Pokémon Go loses its luster, sheds more than 10M users

#165

Post by overgard » Wed, Aug 24, 2016, 12:38 AM UTC

I'm not an expert on this, but, those numbers don't seem awful to me. I realize not everyone started the game at the exact same time, but retaining 75% of your users a month later seems pretty good. Pretty much any mobile game is going to have some churn, and given their stratospheric launch it's not like they were realistically going to grow. Given the (MAJOR!) quality problems they've had, they can probably stem the bleeding quite a bit if they just fix those things.

Re: Pokémon Go loses its luster, sheds more than 10M users

#166

Post by mahranch » Wed, Aug 24, 2016, 12:38 AM UTC

Brendinooo wrote: post #52

Anecdotal, but I'm still playing pretty regularly and still greatly enjoy the game. I like having the app open when I'm on a run. I can hatch eggs, take a breather at gyms, and pick up a lot of Pokemon. Tracking was never an integral part of my game experience, which is maybe why I didn't feel as affected by the changes. I never completely understood the complaints. Niantic has a right to make a (free-to-play!) game…

You say tracking was never an integral part of your game experience and then say you don't understand the complaints. Heh. That's what a vast majority of people are complaining about because tracking was an integral part of their game experience. That's the reason so many of us liked the game to begin with.

Imagine if a game like Soul Caliber or Street Fighter took away the fighting aspect of their game. You may think the main fun part of soul caliber is unlocking stronger/hidden weapons, or selecting the right match-up in street fighter, but a majority of people enjoy the combat aspect.

I continued to play after they took out tracking because I thought it was only temporary. Now I finally realize it's permanent so I haven't logged in to Pokemon Go in 7 days now.

Re: Pokémon Go loses its luster, sheds more than 10M users

#167

Post by foobarian » Wed, Aug 24, 2016, 12:47 AM UTC

thatswrong0 wrote: post #32

rm_-rf_slash wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree with everything you say, but I think it all boils down to "it's the PVP, stupid." Imagine if the actual Pokemon games never had trainers outside of gyms. I don't know about you, but after a while it would start to feel like a repetitive chore.

Yep. I grew up with Pokemon and didn't even install Pokemon Go.. but if it had legit PvP battling and trading, I would definitely give it a spin. How cool would it be if you were walking down the street with your phone in your pocket.. and all of a sudden it started vibrating, you pick it up - TRAINER BATTLE. You look around, and you see someone else with their phone out looking around too. Now all of a sudden you're…

> So much potential for liability

FTFY

Re: Pokémon Go loses its luster, sheds more than 10M users

#168

Post by mahranch » Wed, Aug 24, 2016, 12:48 AM UTC

The sad part is that this is going to be used as a case study in the future on what not to do. I can guarantee it. Every step Niantec has made has been backwards. From removing tracking to making Pokemon harder to catch. The moves they have made are frustrating their players and they're jumping ship as a result.

Re: Pokémon Go loses its luster, sheds more than 10M users

#169

Post by calsy » Wed, Aug 24, 2016, 12:49 AM UTC

fphhotchips wrote: post #132

calsy wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But you are supposed to catch common pokemon, that's the quickest way to level up.

That's nice and all, but it's not fun .

It is fun when those common pokemon evolve into high CP Pokemon.

Re: Pokémon Go loses its luster, sheds more than 10M users

#170

Post by calsy » Wed, Aug 24, 2016, 12:53 AM UTC

bskap wrote: post #130

calsy wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But you are supposed to catch common pokemon, that's the quickest way to level up.

Assuming your goal is to level up. A lot of people were playing for the collection aspect.

Um yes, its called 'evolving' your pokemon. Commons evolve into new high CP pokemon which fill up your pokedex AND give you high XP in the process.